Thursday, January 24, 2008

Chorus - An Hymn to Dionysus

Let us dance now for BakkhiosLet us now cry aloudThe disaster that's befall'nPentheus the serpent's son

Who in a flowing lady'sDress with a trusted fennel-rodSkips flow’ry off to Hades . . .

Oh daughters of Kadmos,You've built up your far-flungFame and turned it intoGrief, into tears

But blessed is the sport, to throwA child’s hand dripping in blood.

But I see Pentheus' mother Agauve rushingto the house, her eyes rolling wild.(enter Agauve)Accept this revelband of the joyful crying god.(hands her headband)

AGAVE

Bacchants of Asia!Ch: Why do you call on me, woman?ΑG: We come bearing in from the

mountains a newly-cut tendriland a victorious hunt!Ch: I see & welcome you, fellow Bacchant.ΑG: I caught this young lion without anymeshes, as you can see.Ch: Where, in the forest?ΑG: On KithaironCh: Kithairon?ΑG: And killed him.Ch: Who hit him first?ΑG: The honor was mine;Ma-care Agauve, am I call'd in thiasoi.Ch: Anyone else?ΑG: Kadmos'...Ch: Kadmos?ΑG: daughters,his daughters killed it with me! And it was aglorious hunt;

have now your share of the feast.Ch: What shall I take, suffering?ΑG: Young, the bull's cheek has just

started to sprout a new growthof hair along its chin. (strokes head-pike)Ch: Yes, and its hair makes it look even more fearsome.ΑG: Oh, Bacchios was the hunter, wiseone who wisely turned the tideof Maenads on the beast.Ch: The lord is a hunter?ΑG: Do you praise him?Ch: Yes I do.ΑG: Soon the Kadmeians...Ch: Even your son Pentheus?ΑG: He's going to be so impressed, that his Mot-